Why Is Urban Outfitters So Expensive? (10 Reasons Why)

Urban Outfitters is a clothing company that offers trendy and affordable clothing. They have stores all around the country and you can even purchase their products online.

Urban Outfitters is often called out for their high prices. They are not your average clothing store, and they don’t compete with stores like Forever 21 or H&M which sell less expensive clothes. For many people, the prices just seem too high to be reasonable.

So why are they so expensive?

Quick Answer

Urban Outfitters is expensive as they provide high-quality goods, many made by independent designers and they have stores in many high-end malls or downtown areas where rent tends to be high. They also use high-quality materials and the company has a loyal following.

Top 10 Reasons Why Urban Outfitters Is So Expensive

Here are the top ten reasons why prices at Urban Outfitters are so high.

They Support Independent Artists

One of the things that sets Urban Outfitters apart is its support for independent artists.

They showcase products from new and upcoming designers, helping to give them a platform.

This includes tattoo artists, painters, and fashion designers.

By working with these artists, they’re able to bring in new and unique designs that other brands don’t have.

While this is great for the artists, it does come at a price tag for Urban Outfitters.

The brand has to account for design costs, materials used, and labor hours put into creating each piece.

All of this drives the prices up for their products.

They Spend A Lot on Marketing

As many of us know, Urban Outfitters spends a lot on marketing.

It’s one of the reasons why they are so well-known.

A $90 million advertising budget is no laughing matter when it comes to maintaining your brand recognition.

The more money spent on ads, the more people see you and therefore the higher chance of them buying something from you.

Urban Outfitters pays for this privilege in order to keep its prices high.

When consumers find out about their expensive products, they already know what they want to buy.

They’re not left wondering if the price is worth it because they’ve already heard other people saying that it was good quality.

If Urban Outfitters didn’t have such a big budget for marketing, in theory, they could reduce their prices but then they have to rely on just word of mouth.

That would then lead to a decrease in sales, as they’d be unable to cover the other high costs.

Their Style Has A Following

It can be easy to forget that a company like Urban Outfitters is a business.

A business, at its core, wants to make money.

In order to make money, it has to keep up a certain image.

An image that is cool, current, and in demand.

Urban Outfitters doesn’t want to be the brand for your mom or dad.

They want to be the brand for you.

For this reason, they continuously raise their prices in order to maintain the exclusivity of their clothes.

If everyone could afford them, then who would want to buy them?

It’s not uncommon for businesses to increase prices as demand goes down in order to appeal to a different target audience.

They Have High Inventory Costs

Urban Outfitters also has high inventory costs that are associated with the need to constantly turn over products.

Keeping a high stock of clothes and products is costly, and it’s something that Urban Outfitters struggles with.

In order to keep up with the latest trends and compete with fast-fashion retailers, they have to keep a high stock.

However, this comes at a price, and it’s often passed on to the consumer in the form of increased prices.

They Pay High Rent and Maintenance Costs

Urban Outfitters does not own most of its buildings, which means they have to pay high rent prices.

In addition, the company also has high maintenance costs for all of its equipment and stores.

Combined, these two reasons account for a lot of the price hikes at Urban Outfitters.

It’s not something that can be easily changed, either.

Rent prices are only going to rise as more people move into cities, so it’s something that Urban Outfitters will need to continue absorbing into their prices.

They Are Selective When They Hire

A lot of people may think that because Urban Outfitters is a big company, it would be easy to get a job there.

That isn’t the case, though.

Urban Outfitters is very selective in who they hire for their stores.

They look for people with fashion sense and knowledge about the brand.

Someone who knows the ins and outs of Urban Outfitters will be able to help customers find what they’re looking for while also upselling products.

It can be hard to obtain a position like this, which is why the employees are paid well.

They Sell Limited Editions

One way Urban Outfitters tries to keep people coming back is by selling limited editions.

They’ll produce a small number of an article of clothing and then sell it for a much higher price.

This usually happens with their more expensive items, like shoes or jackets.

If you want the jacket that Taylor Swift was spotted in, you’ll have to spend a pretty penny on it.

The thing about limited editions is that they eventually run out.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

If you miss your chance, you may never be able to get your hands on that product again.

At that point, you’ll have to either resell it for a higher price or keep it as a collector’s item.

Either way, it isn’t something that you should do regularly if you want to save money.

As much as limited editions are great for increasing interest in products, they do put a strain on one’s wallet.

They Use Quality Materials

Urban Outfitters is a brand that prides itself on good quality and expensive materials.

From their sweaters to their jeans, you can tell that they’re made to last.

Many of their items are also designed in-house, so they have more control over the quality.

This also allows them to be more selective with the materials they use.

As a result, you pay for the quality of the materials as well as for the design.

They Offer Unconventional Clothing

Urban Outfitters has an impressive assortment of clothing.

This includes some pretty interesting pieces of jewelry, shoes, and sweaters for both men and women.

None of their clothes are made to be too flashy or eye-catching though.

They’re all very low-key. Unconventional and also high quality.

For the most part, they’re just new ideas that haven’t hit the mainstream yet.

While this is great for those looking for something different, it can also make their prices seem more expensive than they are worth.

They Have Loyal Customers

Urban Outfitters also has a lot of loyal customers who keep coming back for more.

These customers often buy clothes at full price and don’t mind paying more for their clothes.

They see the quality, fit, and price as being worth it for them.

How To Save Money At Urban Outfitters?

If you’re looking to save money at Urban Outfitters, there are a few things you can do.

1. Sign up for the Urban Outfitters email list to receive coupons
2. Use coupon codes when shopping online
3. Shop during sales and clearance periods
4. Buy discounted gift cards Meet minimum amount or Use promo codes at checkout for free shipping
5. Check out their rewards program, which offers 10% off your next order after you make one qualifying purchase in a calendar year (you can also earn points by referring friends)
6. Look at stores like Urban Outfitters.
7. Buy used items from stores like Crossroads, Plato’s Closet, and SnobSwap. Or check out local shops and sites like OfferUp to find gently used items.
8. Buy $50 or more worth of products to qualify for free shipping.

Wrap Up

There are many factors as to why Urban Outfitters is expensive, but for the most part, it can be justified. In general, they don’t compete on price with any other store. They have a niche market and their prices match the high-end clothing that their customers want.

We hope that this article has helped you understand why Urban Outfitters is expensive and if it is worth the price!